The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18:23-35

Read Matt. 18:23-27.

In this parable, this servant was forgiven a large amount of money. This has many meanings, but even in terms of money, it is a really important moment for him. He was a servant, and could have been put into outright slavery to pay it back. His very life was on the line. The servant should have been grateful for the debt being erased.  

Meditation: 1. Meditate and write about how you are the servant who is forgiven much.

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Read Matt. 18:28-30

This servant is considered wicked because of how he behaved after having his own debt erased. He demanded full payment of a debt owed to him. He didn’t even turn on a total stranger. He attacked a fellow servant. The fellow servants were horrified by the behavior. In those days, servants worked together as a team to support the master. There was a bond between servants. In the same way, today we can see ourselves as servants of the King, and we need to look out for each other. 

Meditation 2: Meditate and write about the truth that the Master asks you to erase or forgive the debt of others, which at times is less than your own. Although you may not write about it, deep in your heart, be honest with yourself about who you need to forgive.

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Read Matt. 18:31-35

The very moral of this story is not so much about how much the Master forgave each of us – although this is indeed important. The heart of the matter is gratitude and learning the lesson of forgiveness. The fact that we are forgiven much should motivate and inspire us to an outpouring of great love and mercy. We are called to care for our fellow servants of the Master with compassion. We are all a community of servants of the King. We work together to serve Him. We are all called to be deeply moved by being forgiven. Thus, the greatest and most proper act of gratitude is to pass on that forgiveness to each other.

Meditation 3: How can you be a more faithful servant, one who shows gratitude to the Master by showing mercy to fellow servants?

PREFACE OF RECONCILIATION II

Lord, You change our hearts to prepare them for reconciliation.

Even more, by Your Spirit, You move human hearts,

that enemies may speak to each other again,

adversaries join hands, and peoples seek to meet together.

By the working of your power it comes about, O Lord,

that hatred is overcome by love,

revenge gives way to forgiveness. 

(www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english5/p03398.htm)

Praying with the Word: Lord Jesus, our Master, help us to understand the meaning of this parable. Open our eyes to the wisdom contained within it, and help us to see ourselves in the parable. Most of all, help us to realize that we are greatly forgiven, and You call us to forgive others. This we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.